Shloka 7
स शिष्य: प्राप्प तत् सर्व सविशेषं च संजय । शूर: शारद्वतीपुत्र: संख्ये द्रोणादनन्तर:,संजय! कृपीका शूरवीर पुत्र अश्वत्थामा शिष्यभावसे विशेष रहस्यसहित सारा धरनुर्वेद अपने पिता द्रोणाचार्यसे प्राप्त करके युद्धस्थलमें उनके बाद वही उस योग्यताका रह गया है
sa śiṣyaḥ prāpa tat sarvaṃ saviśeṣaṃ ca saṃjaya | śūraḥ śāradvatīputraḥ saṅkhye droṇād anantaraḥ ||
Dhṛtarāṣṭra said: “O Sañjaya, that disciple received the entire science in full, together with its special secrets. The heroic son of Śāradvatī—Aśvatthāmā—having learned the whole of archery from his father Droṇa, remained on the battlefield the one most capable after Droṇa himself.”
धृतराष्ट उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the complete transmission of martial knowledge from teacher to disciple, and implicitly raises the ethical burden that comes with mastery: being ‘second only to Droṇa’ in battle power also means being accountable for how that power is used within dharma.
Dhṛtarāṣṭra asks Sañjaya about the warriors and emphasizes that Aśvatthāmā, trained fully by Droṇa and possessing special knowledge, stands out as the foremost fighter remaining after Droṇa on the battlefield.